Vehicle tire



July 21, 1925. 1,546,426

J. J. ZELLER ET Al.

VEHICLE TIRE Filed Jan. 22, 1923, /f 1 we Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES FTENT iOFFlCE.

JOHN J. ZELLER AND JOI-IN J. ZELLER, JR., O'F ONAWAY, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE TIRE.

Application led January 22., 1923. Serial No. 614,135.

T all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it known that we, JoiiN J. ZELLER and .loi-1N J. Znnnnn, Jr., each a citizen of the United States, and each residing at Qnaway, in the county of Fresque Isle, in the State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Vehicle Tire, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a vehicle tire and has for its object the provision of means in a vehicle tire for rendering the same puncture proof and at the same time retaining for it the resiliency which is ordinarily possessed by the conventional types of pneumatic tires.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a vehicle tire of a pair of puncture proof annular members spaced apart, and having a rubber covering thereon and means positioned between said members for retaining the same normally spaced apart.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a vehicle tire of a puncture proof member cooperating with a. metallic annular member and provided with means between said members for absorbing` the shock transmitted to the wheel in its travel.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a. vehicle tire of a sectional metallic annular member provided with cooperating means spaced apart therefrom for maintaining` an outer covering of rubber normally in circular arrangement.

Another object of the invention is the orovision of a pair of annular metallic mem liers provided with means for maintaining the same in spaced relation and for allowing the approach of said members toward` each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of metallic members spaced apart and provided with means for securing the same to the rim of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pair of metallic members spaced apart and provided with means for maintaining the same in spaced relation and for locking -the same in assembled relation to permit the removal of said maintaining members separately.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists inthe combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. l is a central, longitudinal sectional view of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on substantially line 3 3 of FiO'. l, the clasp omitted.

The invention is intended to provide la vehicle tire which will be resilient to substantially the same degree as the pneumatic tire and which will be free from any of the annoyance which results from .punctures with the pneumatic tire. To accomplish this we provide an annular member 7 having ends formed from a split in the member, one of the ends being provided with a slot or eye into which the tongue of a clasp 8, which is pivotally mounted on the member 7, is adapted to project, said tongue being held normally in engagement with the eye edge by means ofa spring 43. Provided on the periphery of the member 7 are bosses 10 which are forme-d by lforming depressions 10 in the inner surface of the member 7, thus forming corresponding pockets in the member 7. A sectional annular member 11 is positioned within the niember 7, the memberll being of smaller diameter than the member 7 and spaced apart therefrom. The various sections are joined together at their adjacent ends by means of knuckles 12 and pintles 13, the knuckles being formed integral with the ends, the ends being pro-vided with tongues which are curled upon themselves. Mounted upon one of the ends 1G of one of the sections is a reenforcing plate l5 which is fastened to an end 13 of one of the sections by means of screws or other suitable means, the adjacent end of the adjacent section being interposit-ioned between the pla-te 15 and the end 18. Secured at one end to the member 7 and at the opposite end to the member 11 at intervalsare springs 19, the ends and 21 thereof being projected through the respective members and clinched so as to present little obstruction on the periphery of the member to which attached. The pocket formed in the/outer member serves to receive the spring when compressed and there is provided in the member 11 pockets 44 formed by pressing bosses 414 thereon. The springs 19 are connected adjacent their llG centers to each adjacent spring by means ot a plate 22 to which is connected a spiral spring 23 which is fastened at one end to the springY 19. Another spiral spring Qt is connected to the opposite end ot the plate 22 and to the adjacent spring 19. These connections serve to maintain the proper distance between the springs 19 at all times.

A metallic rim 254 is providedv which is open and the ends thereof adapted to be secured together by means off a hook 27 which is pivotally mounted by means oit a pintle QG toV knuckles formed from, the member 25, and adapted to. engage in. a. slot 29 formed inthe opposite end ot the member 25, the hook 27 being maintained in operative position by .meansv ot a, spring as already described relative to the hook y rfhe hook 26 may be readily engaged with, the slotf29 ot member 25 by first Contracting the ends oi" the latter. Screws or bol-ts 30 serve to bind the rim 25 to the annular member ll, said screws being shown as threaded into yopenings formed in the member- 11.

. Each of they sections of the member 1l is provided with openings 3l, registering with which are open-ings formedv inthe member 7- and. having the inner surfacethereof threaded. lhen it is desi-red for any reason, suchv as thefbrealging of one ot the` springs 19, to remove one of, the sections it is not necessary to disassemble the whole tire. Bolts may be. projected vthrough the openingsA 31 and; threaded into.- the openings 32. The sectionthat it i-s desiredto remove may then be taken out and replaced without come pletely disassembling theI entire tire. In this connection it shouldA be noted that. the pintles which pass through the knuckles of the adjoini'ngendsofthe sections are thread: ed at one end, the end knuckle being in; teriorally threaded to receive the same. Formed on the boss 44 of. the member llv is a boss 35 toaiord a deeper thread. tor; the screws 30.

The springs 19 which are positioned atoppositc sides of thevsplit in the annular member 7 haveoneend 2l projected through and clenched on the member 7 but` the opposite end is projected through anopening formed inthemember 11 and is threaded to receive la suitable nut. This affords a means orpermittingthe. swinging out ofplace .ofthe one section of the member 11 when it is; desired to disengage the ends of the member 7,

` A rubber covering 36 isprovidedwhich is positioned on the members 7 and 1lv soas to practically surround the same, embracing them on three sides. The edges 37 and- 38 engage between the flanges 89fand'40 which project outwardly from the edges of theA rim member 25. The upper portion of" the rubber coveringis iormed from a hardened rubber so thatthe portion Ll which is subjected to the greater wear will present a Ybetter wearing surface, while the inner portion 42 is formed 'from a soft rubber tov allow 'for the deformation of the tire as the springs 19 are compressed.

A vehicle tire formed in this manner is adapted to permit of substantially the same easy riding the pneumatic tire and the possibility of a puncture is entirely eliminated. In construction the annular members are made oi metal, preferably some spring material. and as the weight of the vehicle is placed upon the tire at different points in its revolution the springs willl be compressed and the shock thus absorbed. i

lhile we have illustrated and;v described the preerred iformoi' structure we do not wish to limit ourselvesto the precise torn-rot structure shown but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

` Having,v thus Vdescribed our invention what we claim vas new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A vehicle tire comprising an outer annular metallic member; an. inner. metallic 'annular member comprising a plurality of sections ;.means for connecting adjacent ends of saidv sections pivotally of each other; and a. plurality of resilient members engaging each or said sections and said outer annular member. `for maintaining the same in. spaced relation, the endsfof said resilient members being projected through said metallic annu'.- ljar members.l

2'. Alvehicle tire comprising-anouter metallic annular member.; plurality of bosses formed on said member, peripherally thereot', to provide pockets on the inner surface thereof; anv inner.v annular sectional metallic member having aplurality otbos'ses formed thereonv peripherally thereof and Varranged in staggered. relation to the bosses on said outer-annular member; and resilient. means positioned. between. said members and adapted normally to maintain the same in spaced relation, the outer ends of said resilient means engaging in the pockets formed in said outer member.

3. A vehicle tire comprisingan outer annular metallic member having a-plurality O pockets formed in the inner suracekthereofi, said pockets being orme'd'b'y oii-settingthe periphery of saidmember; a sectionalinner annular metallicl member having.v a plurality ot'oii-set peripheral portions; a` boss ormed 3" on each otsaid oliset portions to .provide greater body thereto; and means orpmaintaining said members'in spaced'relation.

d'. A; vehicle tire comprising an outer an. nular metallic member;.projections formed on the. periphery thereof, to provide pockets onthe inner surface thereof; a sectional annular metallic member positionedV within said outer member and spaced therefrom; springs for maintaining said members nornr' in) liO mally in spaced relation, the ends of said springs being projected through openings formed in said annular members, and said annular members having openings formed 'therein in registration with each other for the accommodation of locking pins for permitting the removal of a section 'rom said inner member.

5. A vehicle tire comprising an outer metallic annular member, having a plurality of openings formed therein, and threaded for the reception oi the threaded end of a bolt; an inner sectional annular metallic member associated with said outer member, each section being provided With ay plurality of openings termed therein, each open ing being in registration with an opening formed in the outer member 'for permitting the projection of a bolt through said registering openings, for permitting the binding of said inner member cireumferentially of said outer member during the removal of a section from said inner member; and resilient means for maintaining said annular members in spaced relation normally.

6. A vehicle tire comprising an outer metallic annular member, having a plurality of openings formed therein, and threaded for the reception 'of the threaded end of a bolt; an inner sectional annular metallic member associated with said outer member, each seotion being provided With an opening in registration with one of said openings in said outer member, for permitting the projection of a bolt through said registering openings; resilient means for normally maintaining said members in spaced relation; and an enlargement ormed on each of said sections and provided with an opening for affording means for connecting said inner annular member to a vehicle rim With Which used.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands at OnaWay, in the county of Presque Isle, in the State of Michigan.

JOHN J. ZELLER. JOI-IN J. ZELLER, JR. 

